Trainer Paul and Kris Shailer are keen to start Fantastic Honour (NZ) in the LR Fordell – O’Learys Stakes (1200m) at Wanganui but forces beyond their control will have the final say this Saturday.

The Matamata trainers targeted the Wanganui fillies’ feature some time ago as the ideal starting point leading up to the G1 NZ Bloodstock 1000 Guineas in November.  “The timing is perfect, but she won’t be running on a heavy track,” Paul Shailer said.  “If it’s a Slow 8 or 9 then we will be there.

“We’re really happy with her and she looks magnificent – she’ll be very hard to beat and the small field will be ideal.  It will probably be a walk and sprint race so it shouldn’t be a hard run for her first-up.”

Fantastic Honour (3c Any Suggestion – Accidentallyinlove by Cape Cross) won her first two starts last season and then finished runner-up in the G3 Eclipse Stakes.  Any temptation to chase higher honours after her second placing in the Karaka Million was resisted.

Obviously, we always thought she’d be a much better three-year-old and that’s why she only had the four runs,” Shailer said.  “We could have carried on for the Diamond Stakes after the Karaka Million, but we stuck to our plan and believe she’s got the potential to be a Group 1 winner.”

The Shailers bought Fantastic Honour for $80,000 from Bradbury Park at the 2012 NZB Select yearling sale.  She is a half-sister to LR NZ St Leger winner Guns At Five (Duelled) and they descend from G2 AJC St Leger winner Chaleyer (Covetous).